Exploring Orlando
By: Rosa Mendoza
Orlando, long known for its spectacular theme parks, is becoming a bona fide food and drink haven. And when exploring the city’s offerings, it only feels right to start at Mills Market. To put things in perspective: four out of the six (soon to be seven) restaurants inside this market have earned Michelin recognition. If you’re a lover of Asian flavors, Mills Market should be on your radar
Originally known as Tien Hung Market, Mills Market is located in the predominantly Vietnamese neighborhood of Mills 50, just outside downtown Orlando. After the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese families resettled in Central Florida, including the Tung family, who opened this market in 1986. For them, it was a way to preserve and share their culture; for us, it’s a gift. For anyone who hasn’t been to Asia, the sheer variety in one place feels like a dream — or just another day in a bustling Asian metropolis.
Other neighborhood highlights:
Dong A Imports
An Asian import store stacked with treasures — from Buddha statues and incense to embroidered slippers and teas. Perfect for keepsakes or unique travel gifts.Paris Bánh Mì
Our go-to spot for bánh mì, and maybe the best deal in town. For under $8, you can grab a footlong sandwich loaded with flavor, plus a wide variety of refreshing drinks. In this economy, that’s an unforgettable stop. (No photos because, truthfully, we devoured everything before the camera came out — zero regrets.)
On Our Radar:
We’ll be back Mills 50 soon for another round of exploration — this time with a Freddie Gibbs show as our excuse. Here are two non-negotiable stops for our next trip.
The Moderne Dining Room. Courtesy of The Moderne
Early Dinner & Happy Hour @ The Moderne
A contemporary cocktail bar with an Asian–Mediterranean fusion tapas menu. Translation: everything we love, all in one place.After-Show Cocktails @ Death in the Afternoon
This intimate cocktail bar takes its name from Ernest Hemingway’s 1923 book on bullfighting — and from his favorite drink: cold champagne slowly poured over a sugar cube into a flute with some absinthe. When JUJU was in town, this was the bar most recommended by local bartenders, and it’s been on our list ever since.